NotQuiteSane
March 7, 2003, 12:23 PM
When I first got online (1990), this was one of the first messages I recived. Though y'all would like it:
Congratulations on your graduation from the academyl I am a police sergeant with the Vinton, Va. PD. I have been reading your messages with interest for quite a while and thought now would be a good time to pass along a
little insights as to what you can expect.
There will be good days and bad days.
There will be good times and bad times.
There will be times when a million dollars wouldn't make a down payment on your badge, and there will be other times when you want to rip it off and hand it to the next bum that comes along. There will be times when you
have nabbed a scumbag and are "high-fiving" it with your buddies...and times when you are burying a cop that some other scumbag killed, fighting back the tears. Your life will probably be about 99% boring punctuated by 1% terror. You will see people take their last breath in your arms looking at you "to do something". They expect It...YOU'RE A COP. You keep a straight face, try to console the family, try to make sense out of the senseless
You will see people battered, beaten, and injured. Sometimes you just want to puke, but you can't...because you're a cop...you're supposed to be immune. You will be expected to tolerate abuse from people That would cause anyone else to beat the hell out of someone...you see you're a cop and things like that just don't affect you. Yet when it comes to writing a ticket or arresting someone or making a decision, you should have an ample supply of sympathy. There will be times when you see a battered or abused child and you just want to beat the hell out of the person responsible, But you can't...because you're a cop. Frustration?? When you rescue thatbattered child and the courts return him/her to the same parents that abused them to begin with because, "the child is better off with his/her natural parents.
My advice to you. Develop and maintain your integrity. An officers integrity is his/her's most important tool. You san do your job without your police car, your gun, your radio, etc. (although it would be much more difficult), but if you don't have the trust of your co-workers, the courts, and the citizens you protect you are useless. Find a veteran officer in your department that cares about his/her job, that cares about the department, that exhibits knowledge and professionalism, and emulate that person. It will not take long to sort out who is motivated and concientious in your department and who is there "just for the paycheck". Never make a decision based on emotion. Never write a ticket "to get back At someone".
I read in your messaaes vigor and enthusiasm for the job. I see it in the new officers I come into contact with. This will be tempered with time. Do not get disillusioned when it does. When you go to work, be able to look in the mirror and honestly say, "I am a credit to my profession. I have performed my duties fairly and honestly.
Andy Corbin
Sergeant
Vinton, Va. Police Department
NQS
Congratulations on your graduation from the academyl I am a police sergeant with the Vinton, Va. PD. I have been reading your messages with interest for quite a while and thought now would be a good time to pass along a
little insights as to what you can expect.
There will be good days and bad days.
There will be good times and bad times.
There will be times when a million dollars wouldn't make a down payment on your badge, and there will be other times when you want to rip it off and hand it to the next bum that comes along. There will be times when you
have nabbed a scumbag and are "high-fiving" it with your buddies...and times when you are burying a cop that some other scumbag killed, fighting back the tears. Your life will probably be about 99% boring punctuated by 1% terror. You will see people take their last breath in your arms looking at you "to do something". They expect It...YOU'RE A COP. You keep a straight face, try to console the family, try to make sense out of the senseless
You will see people battered, beaten, and injured. Sometimes you just want to puke, but you can't...because you're a cop...you're supposed to be immune. You will be expected to tolerate abuse from people That would cause anyone else to beat the hell out of someone...you see you're a cop and things like that just don't affect you. Yet when it comes to writing a ticket or arresting someone or making a decision, you should have an ample supply of sympathy. There will be times when you see a battered or abused child and you just want to beat the hell out of the person responsible, But you can't...because you're a cop. Frustration?? When you rescue thatbattered child and the courts return him/her to the same parents that abused them to begin with because, "the child is better off with his/her natural parents.
My advice to you. Develop and maintain your integrity. An officers integrity is his/her's most important tool. You san do your job without your police car, your gun, your radio, etc. (although it would be much more difficult), but if you don't have the trust of your co-workers, the courts, and the citizens you protect you are useless. Find a veteran officer in your department that cares about his/her job, that cares about the department, that exhibits knowledge and professionalism, and emulate that person. It will not take long to sort out who is motivated and concientious in your department and who is there "just for the paycheck". Never make a decision based on emotion. Never write a ticket "to get back At someone".
I read in your messaaes vigor and enthusiasm for the job. I see it in the new officers I come into contact with. This will be tempered with time. Do not get disillusioned when it does. When you go to work, be able to look in the mirror and honestly say, "I am a credit to my profession. I have performed my duties fairly and honestly.
Andy Corbin
Sergeant
Vinton, Va. Police Department
NQS